Closing device for belts



f 1,63625 July 261927 P RAVIGNl-:Aux w i CLOSING DEVICE FOR BELTS Filed NOV. l0, 1924 Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES POL RAVIGNEAUX, OF NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

CLOSING DEVIGE FOR BELTS.

Application led November 10, 1924, Serial No. 748,962, and in France November 23, 1923.

The present invention relates to abuckle for attaching belts, girths or various ribbons. Y

The .said buckle is so disposed that the insertion of the band into its openings and the bending of the saine upon the parts of the buckle will permit the formation between the edge and the buckle of a sort of regular knot, which is held in place by the tension of the band itself.

The principal advantages of the said buckle consist in the first place in the fact that it may be made in a single piece which is suitably apertured, and without any joints, so that the said buckle may consist of composition material or metal, or even of a semi-rigid material such as leather. l

Since it possesses no mechanical parts, 1t has the simplest possible construction, and by reason of the absence of joints itis not subject to wear. As regards its application, the tongue of the buckle is eliminated, and thus there will be no risk of wounding the person.

In the known forms of tongueless buckles, the leather of the belt is usually deteriorated within a short time, since it is held between two metal pieces which must often be roughened to prevent slipping.

But in the device according to the invention. the leather ofthe belt is held upon the buckle-which may be well polishedsolely by its own means. lnasmuch as the combination of the buckle and the belt is very flat since only one piece is employed, it can be substituted to advantage for the buckles with tongues or for buttons provided with an eyelet which are employed in orthopedic devices.

In the appended drawings which are given by way of example:

Fig. l shows a const-ructional form of the device according to the invention, with a ribbon or band knotted upon the buckle.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the manner in which oneof the portions of the band is held by the other.

Fig. 3 is a modification in which the buckle is differently apertured.

Fig. et is a simplified form.

Fig. 5 isa modification in which certain of the apertures in the buckle are opened to the exterior.

Fig. 6 is a modification in which the upper edge of the frame of the buckle has the oblique position. y

Fig. 7 shows a buckle made of a continuous metal wire.

Fig. 8 shows two buckles united in one and having a. common aperture.

Fig. 9 shows a buckle in which the edge of the secondbending is encircled.

The closing device according to the invention may be used for belts or girths which are made in one piece, as well as for attach-y ing two separate pieces, as for example in the tightening straps at the back of trousers, but for the sake of clearness the following 1decription'relates to a closing device for a ie t.

The portions of the belt will be designated as follows. The entering portion, the one which is brought to the buckle before any folding occurs; the folded portion, the one proceeding from the iirst to the second fold; the outgoing portion, the free end lea-ving the buckle; the closing portion, the part of the belt connected to the buckle after passing around the body. The lower face of the buckle signifies the face situated next the body, and the upperface signifies the external face when the said buckle isin position.

The principal elements of the buckle are an input aperture C through which the belt is inserted, an output aperture B1 upon whose edge E it is folded or bent for the first time, a frame upon.' whose edge D the belt is folded a. second time, a lug N b which the operator may conveniently hold both the belt and the buckle while a knot is tied, and an aperture B2 to which the closing portion is attached.

The width of the input aperture C, the distance between the two apertures@ and B1 and the inclinations of the edges of the said apertures combined with those of the edges E and D, are the important elements of the invention. f.

`Fig. l shows the manner in which the knot is made upon the buckle. The band which has been inserted through the input aperture from bottom to top and is thenbent upon the edge of the output aperture and thus returns below the buckle; it is then bent upon the straight edge D of the buckle so that it will return upon the outside of the frame, and the end is brought under the part of the band situated between the two apertures C and B1, in such manner as to :term a knot. The iiatwise tightening serves to prevent the band from slipping. lt should be remarked that due to the inclina tions selected for Vthe folding edges, which are straighuthe belt will be properly folded at each edge, without wrinkling orimproper folds, and the output strand will be placed directly between theinput and the output apertures.

But'the' several elements of the buckle may be so combined that the. band will be tightly held by other means. If the dis tance between the lower points I and J of the two apertures is substantially equal to the width of the band tva-ken in the direction I J, the band will also be held in the transverse direction. lf on the. other hand the inclination of the external edge of the first aperture C and that of the internal edge of the second aperture B1 are so combined thatthe belt, after having been twice bent, as above stated, is brought out parallel to the external edge of the lirst aperture, and if the latter is given a suitable width according to the thickness of the buckle and the thickness of the band, the edge of the outgoing portion will be held upon the whole length of the internal edge of the saidaperture, so that the belt will be tightly maintained.

The force which acts against the loosening of the band is multiplied upon the entering portion, since the belt is wound upon the '5 buckle as a cord is wound upon a cylinder.

For this reason, the second aperture B1, or rather the edge E against which the band is bent, which is the only one operative, is given a. more inclined position than thel edges of the first aperture both of which are operative in this case and are substantially parallel.

Fig. 2 is a section corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the outgoing portion is'held in the first aperture. Fig. l further shows a lug, N situated outside the portion of the buckle serving to support the knot. The saidy lug` is not simply employed to give an attractive appearance, and to form a rectangle, but when the belt is put on, it enables the enteringportion to be held between two fingers while the knot is completed with the other hand. As a rule, it is suitably out out, so thatthe band will be better held.

The closing portion of the belt may be also maintained by a catch or clasp forming a hook, and in this event the knot which is v formed at the other end serves solely to adjust the length.

The said closing portion is brought through the aperture B2; the end may be sewed in the known manner or preferablyy maintained by two rivets, as observed. The latter may be replaced by any desired removable means, for instance by spring buttons. This side of the belt may also be made adjustable, although thisvis not necessary, since any person can adjust the belt to the suitable length about the waist by cutting the end of the belt, in such manner that the free end will not hang down in an inconvenient position.

lf the buckle is made of metal or of a rigid composition material, it may be given a cylindrical convex shape so as to fit upon the body, or a spherical convex shape in order to increase the rigidity, and this will allow of reducing` the thickness to some eX- tent. a semirigid material is employed, such as partially hardened leather or india rubber, the closing portion of the belt can be sewed to the buckle, or it may even be constituted by the same piece, provided the end at which the knot is made is sufciently thin to be bent.

Fig. 3 shows the same buckle, from which the portion separating` the two apertures B1 and B2 has been removed so that the latter will now form a singleaperture B; the principle is not changed, but this allows of somewhat reducing the length (since no tongue is required at the upper part) and also ofl lightening the buckle, which may prove advantageous, both` as regards cost and wear.

Fig.v 4t shows a simplified device in which the lug" N is eliminated, and this arrangement may suffice for particular uses, such as for girths.

Fig. 5 represents a buckle in which the apertures B and C are opened at the top. For certain uses, in order that the device may be Vput in place more rapidly, either or both of the Isaid apertures may be opened at the top or bottom, according to the ease.

Fig. 6 shows abuckle in which the upper part of the frame, on which thel second fold is mad-e, has an oblique position. By a suitable choice of this inclination, the outgoing portion of the band may assume any inclination, but in order to maintain the characteristics of the buckle, the inclination of the edge D must always be combined with the inclination of the external edge of the aperture C and of the internal edge E of the aperture B1. The hgure shows the outgoing portionfalling vertically.

Fig. 7 represents a buckle according to the invention which is made ot' bent wire, and certain portions may be soldered together at suitable points. This buckle has the same features as Fig. l, and more particularly Fig. '8, and comprises an aperture C and the folding edges E and D having suitable sizes and positions, also comprising the lug N. Y

8 shows a double buckle, in which the two ends are individually maintained. As a particular case, the same aperture B2 with parallel edges serves for the first fold of each end, so that the knots will be symmetrical,

llt)

one portion of the band leaving'at the top and the ot-her at the bottom. The buckle may obviously be combined in such manner that the two knots will be entirely independ ent.

The buckle of F ig. 9 compris-es, besides the apertures and the ordinary edges of binding, a frame which can serve both for protecting the band and for ornamenting the buckle.

The buckle as above described may also serve to secure and support a knot which is not tightened, for instance as applied to clothing, hats or the like, and instead of employing a closing portion of band, the buckle may be attached to the objects in question.

Having thus described my process and apparatus, what I claim as new therein, and my own invention, is:

A buckle adapted to join the two ends of a belt, the said buckle comprising an input aperture adapted for the insertion of the said belt, an output aperture having a straight internal edge and adapted for the insertion of the said belt, an output aperture having a straight internal edge and adapted for the insertion of the end of the belt issuing from th-e said input aperture, a straight edge of the buckle making with the internal edge of the lsaid output aperture such an acute angle that the free strand of the belt, after having been folded around the said edges has such a direction that it directly proceeds in the space comprised between the said apertures, the external edge of the said input aperture being straight, making an acute angle with the internal edge of the said output aperture and having an inclination which is substantially parallel to the free strand of the belt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I' have sign-ed my name.

POL kRAVIGNEAUX. 

